When the notification dropped that the Colorado Avalanche acquired defenceman Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick, the hockey world let out a collective gasp. Why would a Stanley Cup contender trade a 27-year-old dynamic puck-mover and a premium draft pick for a 32-year-old pending unrestricted free agent?
The answer rewards those who look past the surface stats and straight at the NHL salary cap.
Colorado isn’t just acquiring a reliable, stay-at-home veteran in Kulak; they are buying ultimate financial flexibility. Girard carries a $5 million cap hit through the end of next season, whereas Kulak’s $2.75 million deal expires this summer. By attaching a 2028 second-round pick, Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland effectively paid the Penguins to take on Girard’s money. This bold maneuver opens up over $2.25 million in immediate cap space—and $5 million for next year—giving the Avs the crucial financial ammo needed to pursue a top-six forward or an elite goaltending upgrade before the trade deadline.
How Brett Kulak Changes the Colorado Avalanche Blue Line
It is incredibly rare to see a player traded twice in one season, but Brett Kulak is now unpacking his bags for the third time this year. Having started the 2025-26 campaign with the Edmonton Oilers, he was shipped to the Penguins on December 12 in the Tristan Jarry/Stuart Skinner blockbuster. Now, he heads to Denver.
Kulak brings exactly what the Avalanche need for a grueling postseason: boring, predictable, mistake-free hockey. Across 56 games split between Edmonton and Pittsburgh this season, Kulak has posted one goal and eight assists while eating up a highly respectable 18:53 of ice time per night. He is a 12-year NHL veteran who has played high-stakes playoff minutes with the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Oilers. He won’t dazzle you with spin-o-ramas at the blue line, but he wins net-front battles, retrieves pucks efficiently, and clears the crease—areas where Colorado has occasionally looked soft in tight games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins Score Big with Samuel Girard
On the other side of the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins management team deserves a standing ovation. Taking on money to acquire assets is exactly what retooling teams should do. In Girard, the Penguins get a highly elusive, 27-year-old top-four defenceman who already has three goals and 12 assists in 40 games this season (averaging 17:41 of ice time).
Girard was instrumental in Colorado’s recent successful years, utilizing his elite edge-work to escape heavy forechecks. Yes, the Penguins take on his $5 million cap hit for next season, but they instantly upgrade their transition game while banking a 2028 second-round draft pick for their troubles. It’s a masterful piece of asset management. Colorado gets their cap space and a reliable rental; Pittsburgh gets a prime-age puck mover and future draft capital.
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